Monday, September 30, 2019

Commentary – Staring At The Sun by The Offspring

Maybe life is like a ride on a freeway Dodging bullets while you're trying to find your way Everyone's around, but no one does a damn thing It brings me down, but I won't let them If I seem bleak Well you'd be correct And if I don't speak It's cause I can't disconnect But I won't be burned by the reflection Of the fire in your eyes As you're staring at the sun When I ran I didn't feel like I ran away When I escaped I didn't feel like I got away There's more to living than only surviving Maybe I'm not there, but I'm still trying Though you hear me I don't think that you relate. My will is something That you can't confiscate So forgive me, but I won't be frustrated By destruction in your eyes As you're staring at the sun Commentary (Staring At The Sun) The Offspring are commonly known to be a punk-rock band but they have taken up so many different styles in their albums that many would agree that they sing something unique which cannot be fitted fully in a specific genre of music. But the core of almost every album has been fast songs with really meaningful lyrics (and not just something that rhymes which can be often heard in punk-rock). Their album, Americana not only sold over 10,000,000 copies worldwide but also presented the band in a new light and served as a development of Californian punk-rock. In Americana, the band sings about different events that happen in the life of ordinary American families and teenagers. Staring At The Sun is one of my favorite songs not only because of the music but also because of powerful lyrics which combines well with the rhythm. Generally, the song is about trying to figure out your identity and how you fit in the world. It is especially evident for teenagers that are growing up and trying to fit in everything they do. The song also tells us of people who want to fit in so desperately that they compromise their interests and transform their character in order to fit in. The lyrics remind me of a narrative poem. The first line sets the mood of the song and suggests that the persona is in deep thoughts about life. Simile â€Å"life is like a ride on a freeway† reflects the subject of persona's thoughts. Freeway† suggests freedom in choosing your way of living or your place in the society. â€Å"Ride† links to the idea of searching for something in this society. The second line completes the idea raised in the first line that life is searching for your place, trying to fit in the world. â€Å"Dodging bullets† suggests rage which could mean difficulties that can be encountered when trying to â€Å"find yourself† and that irrespective of anger or grudge that you may have you should continue to seek for your place in society. The next two lines link to the idea that it is important for anybody to be who he/she is and do not care what anyone else thinks. This is suggested by the third line that although â€Å"everyone's around†, there is really no help from them in selecting the path of your life (â€Å"no one does a damn thing†). The next line extends the idea slightly suggesting that being yourself while all the rest turn against you is very hard but you should not quit the path you have selected. The end of the third line and the beginning of the fourth are loaded with â€Å"heavy† words. This becomes even more evident as the singer stresses these words when singing the song. Repetition of â€Å"d† and â€Å"g† in the words â€Å"damn†, â€Å"thing†, â€Å"brings†, â€Å"down† emphasizes the fact that there is no help from the people surrounding you and that they essentially try to stop you from selecting your path (â€Å"bring†, â€Å"down†). But this is then contradicted by â€Å"I won't let them†. The second stanza emphasizes persona's unwillingness to conform to everyone else. This is suggested by the first four lines. The last three lines of the stanza are very significant. In these lines persona is trying to say that if someone is going to destroy himself, he is not going to drag the persona down with him. This is suggested by â€Å"I won't be burned by the reflection of the fire in your eyes†. The words â€Å"burned† and â€Å"fire† are significant here as they emphasize burning, dying out, destruction of character and identity of somebody who is trying to fit in something unnatural for himself. â€Å"Staring at the sun† is a metaphor or analogy for people that are being self-destructive or compromising themselves. The persona says that he is not a part of this and appeals to people to stick to their own paths that they have selected and not compromise themselves. The â€Å"burning† of these lines suggests persona's fury about this situation. The third stanza is about persona in the actual search for his path of life. The first two lines of the stanza suggest that you may be uncertain or doubt the path you have selected when all the people around you are trying to stop you. Echoing of running away (â€Å"ran† and â€Å"ran away†) and escaping (â€Å"escaped† and â€Å"got away†) in the same lines emphasizes your tireless search for the true path, that you may not know what to do or where to go but you should keep seeking for it. This idea is also confirmed by the last two lines of the stanza that you should live in the way you want and not to conform to somebody else's style of living (â€Å"there's more to living than only surviving†) just because you have to, if it is unnatural for you. The last line of the stanza confirms the idea that although you realize you have not found your path yet you should continue seeking for it. It is also significant that the idea of searching, emphasized by the first two lines (â€Å"ran†, â€Å"ran away†, â€Å"escaped† and â€Å"got away†) also links it to the idea that your mind could be confused by other people's opinions. The last stanza again emphasizes the fact that the persona is not going to be dragged down by self-destructive people who compromise themselves. In the first two lines persona is suggesting that although these self-destructive people may understand him they cannot take any action towards changing it as their identity and character are already tied in with the thought that they have to compromise themselves. The third and fourth lines of the stanza signify the fact that persona will not be a part of that by admitting that â€Å"my will† will be guiding him in search for his path and that it cannot be manipulated or â€Å"confiscated† unlike the minds of people who compromise themselves. This is also confirmed by stressing â€Å"my will† which emphasizes strength and endurance. The last three lines of the stanza repeat the end of the second one and thus emphasize the persona's thoughts that it is important for anybody to be who they really want to and not to try conforming to or to fitting in somebody else's style.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Determination of Refractive Index of Prism Using Spectrometer and Various Light Sources

Determination of Refractive Index of Prism using Spectrometer and Various Light Sources Dimain, Marion; Gonzales, Jade; Pancho Jr. , Ronel; Viloria, Matthew David College of Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines [email  protected] com [email  protected] com [email  protected] com tewhmat. [email  protected] com Abstract The study aims to measure the refractive index of a triangular prism using a spectrometer, utilizing different gas discharge tubes as light source.With the use of the discrete spectrum of mercury vapor, hydrogen gas and neon gas, each of the visible color in their respective spectrum passing through the prism was used as the incident ray. The results determined that the red light of the neon discharge tube brought about a calculated refractive index closest to the theoretical value. I. Introduction The spectrometer is an instrument for analyzing the spectra of radiations. A prism refracts the light into a single spe ctrum, whereas the diffraction grating divides the available light into several spectra.Because of this, slit images formed using a prism are generally brighter than those formed using a grating. Spectral lines that are too dim to be seen with a grating can often be seen using a prism. Unfortunately, the increased brightness of the spectral lines is offset by a decreased resolution, since the prism doesn’t separate the different lines as effectively as the grating. However, the brighter lines allow a narrow slit width to be used, which partially compensates for the reduced resolution. Prism refers to any transparent medium having two or more plane surfaces.A familiar example is the triangular prism, usually made of glass, used to split beam of white light into its component colors. When light is refracted through a prism it is dispersed into its constituent colors, and the angle at which the light emerges from the prism depends upon its wavelength. A prism spectrometer can be used to measure the deviation angles. Since the deviation angles also depend upon the index of refraction of the glass from which the prism is made, they can be used to calculate the index of refraction ? at the different wavelengths via: ? sinA+Dmin2sinA2 (1) where A is the apex angle of the prism and Dmin is the minimum deviation angle of a specific color in the discrete spectrum. [3] The tip of the prism where the two refracting surfaces meet is the apex angle. Deviation angle is defined as the angle between the original incident beam and the final transmitted beam. Figure 1. The apex angle A and the deviation angle D. [5] With reference to Figure 1, light travelling in medium n1 is incident at an angle ? i1 to the normal of one face of the prism having refractive index n2.The incident light is refracted at the first interface and travels at angle ? t1 with respect to the normal. This light is incident at the second face of the prism at an angle ? i2 and finally refracted again to exit the prism at angle ? t2. The deviation angle is therefore equal to: D=(? i1 – ? t1) + (? t2-? i2) (2) In Figure 1, the polygon abcd, there are two right angles ? abc and ? adc. Also for the polygon, since the sum of opposite angles should be 180? so ? bcd + ? A = 180?. [5] Further, in triangle bcd we have ? bcd+? 1+ ? i2=180?. Therefore, the sum of angle A is ? t1+? i2. Relating D and A, D=? i1+ ? t2- ? A. When the prism is rotated perpendicular to the plane of incidence, i. e. such that the incidence angle ? i1 is varied continuously, the deviation of the transmitted light changes. [5] This deviation goes through a minimum Dmin. By symmetry we can argue that the minimum deviation position should be independent of the direction in which light enters the prism. In other words, light entering the prism from the left or right should exhibit the same properties of refraction, minimum deviation, etc. 5] Therefore, if we reverse the direction of light, thus having the new incident light ? i1new=? t2old and ? t2new=? i1old. Experimentally, it is observed that Dmin occurs when the refracted ray inside the prism makes equal angles with the two faces. This means that if we reverse the direction in which light is incident on the prism, we have a new ? i1= ? t2at which the Dmin occurs. However, experimentally, only one Dmin occurs and therefore ? i1= ? t2 at Dmin. [5] Using Snell’s law, we have: n1n2=sin? i1sin? t1 (3) Using minimum deviation we have:Dmin=2sin? i1-A or ? i1=Dmin+A2 (4) From the equivalent sum of angle A, ? t1=A-? i2. Thus, using the minimum angle condition we have ? t1=A2. Substituting the values of ? i1 and ? t1 with n2 as one on Equation 3, yields Equation 1. II. Methodology The materials utilized in the study were triangular prism of unknown refractive index, laser light source, protractor, gas discharge tubes (mercury, hydrogen, and neon), high voltage power supply for discharge tubes and spectrometer.The index of refraction of the prism was first measured using the protractor, laser light source and prism. First the telescope was focused to distant objects i. e. infinity and maintained until the experiment is over, so as not to refocus again. [2] The collimator was adjusted such that the image seen in the telescope is sharp. [2] The diffraction grating holder from the spectrometer table was removed and replaced with prism clamp. The triangular prism was placed and clipped on the table and oriented as shown in Figure 2.The telescope was set to read the angle of the light that is reflected off each face of the prism. The difference between the scale readings at clockwise point a and counterclockwise point b, shown in the Figure 2, equals twice the apex angle A. The value of the apex angle A was calculated. Figure 2. The experimental set-up and measurement of the apex angle A. [3] Using the positioning jig, the prism was rotated on the spectrometer table so that it is oriented as shown in Figure 3. When gas es or vapors of elements are heated or exposed to high voltage they emit light.The emitted light can be split into its component wavelengths by passing it through a diffraction grating or prism. The emission spectrum is unique and characteristic to each element. The discrete spectrum each gas discharge tube was observed. The average angular displacements (clockwise and counter-clockwise) of each color were tabulated while rotating the telescope as the visible colors of the spectra was scanned. Using the values gathered for the apex angles and angle of minimum deviation, the index refraction was computed using Equation 1. Figure 3.Measurement of the angle of minimum deviation D. [3] III. Results and Discussion The measured apex angle A of the prism was 60?. Using the laser light source the angle of 45? was used as incident angle with respect to the normal line, the emergent ray has a 28?. The calculated refractive index, using Equation 3, was 1. 506175959; this will be treated as the theoretical value. The table below shows the calculated index of refraction using Equation 1. The only visible colors for mercury discharge tube were violet, green and yellow, red and blue-green for hydrogen, and yellow and red for neon.The visible colors in each spectrum using prism were less compared when using diffraction grating. This can be due to the limited scope observable using triangular prisms as dispersion agent of the spectrometer. There was an increasing trend of indices as minimum deviation angle increases and as the wavelength of the colored light decreases independent of the element contained in the discharge tube. A prism refracts the light into a single spectrum, whereas the diffraction grating divides the available light into several spectra.Because of this, slit images formed using a prism are generally brighter than those formed using a grating. That is why prisms are preferred when the desired dispersion is weak. Spectral lines that are too dim to be seen wit h a grating can often be seen using a prism. Unfortunately, the increased brightness of the spectral lines is offset by a decreased resolution, since the prism doesn’t separate the different lines as effectively as the grating. However, the brighter lines allow a narrow slit width to be used, which partially compensates for the reduced resolution.The lesser number of colors of light seen in the scope of a spectrometer utilizing a prism as a dispersion medium can also be associated to the unseparated spectral lines of the discharge tubes. The average value of the refractive index closest to the theoretical was given off by the neon discharge tube with 1. 515508062 and 0. 6196% deviation. The color red of neon gave off the refractive index closest to the theoretical with 1. 513609903. It connotes that it is more reliable to use neon discharge than mercury and hydrogen in measuring the index of refraction of a prism.The experimental design inadequately addressed the hypothesis d ue to unavailability of materials; further experimentation could be done using other elements and other prism of different refractive indices and apex angles to explore if there will a significant difference with respect to the gathered data. Table 1. Different minimum deviation angles of the spectrum of different discharge tubes. Element| Color| Minimum Deviation Angle D| Index of Refraction ? | Average Index of Refraction ? | Percent Deviation| Mercury| Violet| 41? 30’| 1. 548785288| 1. 540510872| 2. 2796%| | Green| 40? 44’| 1. 540284548| | | | Yellow| 40? 2’| 1. 3246278| | | Hydrogen| Blue-Green| 39? 56’| 1. 53134071| 1. 528902825| 1. 8384%| | Red| 39? 30’| 1. 52646494| | | Neon| Yellow| 38? 42’| 1. 517406221| 1. 515508062| 0. 6196%| | Red| 38? 22’| 1. 513609903| | | IV. Conclusion and Recommendation It is therefore concluded that the refractive index of a prism can be measured using a spectrometer. The most reliable gas discharge tube between hydrogen, mercury and neon to measure refractive indices was neon with 1. 515508062 and 0. 6196 percent deviated from the theoretical value of 1. 506175959. The color red of neon gave off the refractive index closest to the theoretical with 1. 13609903. The visible colors in each spectrum using prism were less compared when using diffraction grating. There was an increasing trend of indices as minimum deviation angle increases and as the wavelength of colored light decreases independent of the element contained in the discharge tube. The experimental design inadequately addressed the hypothesis due to unavailability of materials, further experimentation could be done using other elements and other prism of different refractive indices and apex angles to explore if there will a significant difference with respect to the gathered data.Acknowledgements First and foremost, the students would like to thank Mrs. Jen-jen Manuel, our physics laboratory instructor, for his patie nce, guidance and understanding. The National Institute of Physics for letting us conduct this experiment. The staff in-charge-of-the-instruments for letting the students borrow instruments vouched by University of the Philippines I. D. References 1. Young, H. , University Physics, 12th Edition L. P. E. , Chapter 38: Photons: Light Waves Behaving As Particles, Photoelectric Effect, Pearson Education South Asia PTE LTD (2009). 2. Go, Mary Ann, et. l. (Laboratory Manual Authors), Physics 73. 1, Spectral Fingerprinting, The Spectrometer (2007). 3. http://www. cmi. ac. in/~debangshu/lab1/spectrometer. pdf 4. http://uregina. ca/~szymanss/uglabs/p112/Experiments/112-08Spectr08. pdf 5. https://www. google. com. ph/url? sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphysics. wustl. edu%2Fclassinfo%2F316%2FTheory%2FRefraction. pdf&ei=0I0xUe_iA6i9iAfiooGoBg&usg=AFQjCNEfjICiK9bxd9xT7AZsYZT-j5ybDw&sig2=s9OmxcBtP3WtmnbVM7nlQQ&bvm=bv. 43148975,d. aGc

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The curriculum NZ Early Years Curriculumhas a role in shaping future Essay

The curriculum NZ Early Years Curriculumhas a role in shaping future identities. (Ross, 2000, p.149) - Essay Example Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers derive much benefit from a play-based curriculum, and under the supervision of knowledgeable and caring adults, it is a powerful method in facilitating the development of children’s identities. This paper will explore one of the definitions of identity as cited in Webber (n.d.) Identity is a socially constructed phenomenon related to the societal context in which individuals live. It is also very much a personal process. Erikson(1980) â€Å"understood that one’s identity is something that is both self-created and bestowed upon the individual by the culture†(p 13) (as cited in Webber, n.d., p. 14) Pedagogical models with strong sociocultural features such as Te Whariki do not leave play to chance but sustains it through complex reciprocal and responsive relationships as well as provision of activities which are socially constructed and mediated (Wood, 2004). Not only do activities promote self-awareness but also incorporate cult ural awareness which strengthens children’s cultural identities. ... Play is a child’s world. It is an avenue where one can be free to be oneself without anyone imposing rules or restrictions to conform to society’s standards. Play offers many benefits that foster children’s learning. It engages the mind to actively imagine various scenarios for fun or for problem-solving. Te Whariki’s strand of Mana Aoturoa (Exploration) encourages children’s active exploration of the environment because in doing so, they learn many strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning as well as developing theories in understanding their world (MOE, 1996). Babies and toddlers play in order to get to know how things work, how people react, etc. They get to explore and discover things that otherwise they will not learn about if they do not actively engage in play. This free exploration is considered Heuristic play by Holland (2003) and encourages it without adult intervention. Adults provide simple materials and allow the childâ €™s imagination to take off. â€Å"The child learns from observing directly what these objects will ‘do’ or ‘not do’, in sharp contrast to much of the ‘educational’ equipment which has a result predetermined by the design which has been devised by the adult maker (Holland, 2003, p. 142). Not only will heuristic play stimulate a child’s thinking, but it also develops his creativity as he will see in his mind endless possibilities in imaginatively transforming ordinary objects into various things with various functions. Young children learn better in play- like settings because they retain concepts better when learned in the spirit of fun. Macintyre (2003) discusses the value of play in all the developmental areas of children. Children love games that stimulate thinking. Such cognitive benefits

Friday, September 27, 2019

Culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Culture - Assignment Example In his article, Martin Lever explores and clarifies the importance of nurses being knowlegdable in the culture of their patients especially when dealing with individual patients(Leever, 2011). He argues that the competence of nurses in culture is likely to contribute to positive results in the healthcare of a person they are caring for . Lisa Bearskin in her article agrees with Martin Leever that indeed possession of cultural competence by nurses has a positive impact on the patients. She points out that the nursing profession has evolved over the years in terms of appreciating and including culture in delivery of service to the patients (Bearskin, 2011). However, she advises that the nurses should not focus only on being competent in culture but also concentrate on â€Å"cultural safety by way of relational ethics† as â€Å"a more respectful way to achieve ethical nursing practice in everyday situations† (Bearskin, 2011, p.557). Nurses should pay close attention to the specific needs of each individual patient in order to achieve their objective of delivering the best healthcare service to the patient. Health care facilities should therefore position themselves by ensuring that they are prepared and ready to accommodate the cultural needs of their patients and should show that commitment through adequate training of their nurse staff (Leever,

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Critical Review and Critique on Rapid Response Team Policies for Acute Essay

Critical Review and Critique on Rapid Response Team Policies for Acute Patients in Riyadh Military Hospital and the UK - Essay Example Moreover, in an article published back in 2007 entitled â€Å"Safer Care for the Acutely Ill Patient†, the National Patient Safety Agency (2007) reported that 576 out of 1,804 hospital deaths were due to diagnostic errors, unrecognized patient deterioration left untreated and problems with resuscitation after a sudden cardiac arrest. It is for this reason that many countries have come up with the idea of forming Rapid Response Teams (RRT) in hospitals to address acute condition cases (Berwick et al., 2006). II. Aim Considering the average waiting time before each patient receives health care intervention, this paper will also focus on discussing rapid response for suddenly ill patients strategies used in the United Kingdom (UK) and Riyadh Military Hospital (RMH) to ensure that its health care professionals are able to deliver quality care and treatment to each patient on a timely basis. III. Critical Review and Critique on Rapid Response Team Policies for Acute Patients in Riy adh Military Hospital and the UK To enable readers to gain better understanding concerning the effectiveness and differences between the ICU RRT in Riyadh Military hospital and NHS hospitals in the UK, this report will first discuss the main purpose of RRTs. Rapid response teams in United Kingdom also referred to as medical emergency teams are multidisciplinary teams that consist of satisfactorily trained clinical personnel. In Riyadh Military hospital, the rapid response team’s core obligation is to examine and evaluate patients who portray symptoms of medical deterioration outside the intensive care unit (Winters, Pham and Pronovost, 2006, p.1647; Nakagawa, 2007, p. 1371; Addington-Hall and McCarthy, 2005, p. 295). Such a team provides early rescue to patients who are in critical health condition in hospital settings. The first team of this kind was created in 1995 as an experiment team in Riyadh Military Hospital before spreading to other hospitals in United Kingdom. The t eam served as a proactive mechanism for reducing unexpected death incidences in hospitals. The core reasons for the introduction of rapid response teams in health care in United Kingdom were to increase patients’ safety and to reduce the rate of inpatients’ deaths in hospitals. InRiyadh Military Hospital, rapid response teams work hand in hand with primary physicians and bedside nurses to resuscitate patients in acute need of medical attention (Sebat, Musthafa and Johnson, 2007, p. 2575). a. Main Purpose of Rapid Response Teams A RRT is a medical emergency team in the intensive care unit that is responsible for assessing and giving initial treatment to deteriorating non-critical care patients (Chan et al., 2008). The purpose of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) is to quickly extract the right cause from the situation of any acute condition. In any case, where the team takes too much time to do this, then their main purpose is unaccomplished (Adams and Failano, 2011). In the UK, the main purpose of Rapid Response to Acute Illness (RRAI) is â€Å"to support clinical teams in the reduction of harm and mortality associated with the acutely deteriorating patient† (1000 Lives, n.d). The policies for the RRT in United Kingdom have recently been addressed by the medical services. It has been suggested in the main protocol of the program that the response team will be selected based on certification. This is similar to the criteria of UK RRTs. The only difference is that the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Bicycle gives environment low impact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bicycle gives environment low impact - Essay Example The government of Queensland however also explains that using a bicycle over a distance of 10 kilometers saves the environment from emission of 1500 kilograms of greenhouse gas (1). Unlike cars that are widely used for transport in urban areas, bicycle use also reduces environmental pollution by exhaust gases carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur oxides. In addition, bicycle usage generates less noise compared to noise from engines of other locomotive machines such as cars and motor bicycles (Deakin University of Australia 2). Disposal of waste material is another burden to the environment and bicycles reduce this. This is because of relatively less materials that are used to assemble bicycles, compared to materials used for other vessels such as vehicles and airplanes. Density of materials used in bicycles is also lower and this facilitate disposal of bicycle parts once they are worn out (Queensland Government 1). Deakin University of Australia. â€Å"Environmental benefits of cycling.† Deakin University of Australia. N.d. Wweb. October 23, 2014. < https://www.deakin.edu.au/travelsmart/docs/theenvironmentabenefitsofcycling_fact%20sheet.pdf

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Chinese Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese Popular Culture - Essay Example This has lead to the turn of events among the citizens of the country whereby the workers have been laid off from their duties in various state owned companies. The presence of unemployment in the People’s Republic of China has led brought about the growth of personal challenges for unemployed workers and human resource policy challenges for the government. The unemployed population must find a way to cope up with the sudden change of their livelihood by searching for a similar means of making a living. In this paper, will focus on how college graduates deal with unemployment and how crime and corruption, along with social stability and mobility play a role in the PRC today. Furthermore, a detailed explanation of how unemployment creates serious problems with access to housing, education, and basic social services in the People’s Republic of China (Latham, 1-35). The employment situation in China for new college and university graduates seems to be unusual compared to t he present working group. The presence of the graduate unemployment crisis in China portrays the possibility of the wasteful investment of scarce resources. This is due to the factor that plenty of capital has been invested in educating unemployed graduates, which could or else have been invested in job-creating productive programs in the country. The presence of a large population of unemployed graduates makes the job market be very competitive. Furthermore, the graduates are also to be blamed in this issue because they always have negative expectations under the pressure of seeking jobs. According, to surveys done by various research houses in the People’s Republic of China most of the graduating students prefer to get an employment contract first, then they would later reflect on pursuing a new job position which is what they really desire to be employed for an average of two years. This assumption by the graduating students makes it possible for the emergency of the under employment and high turnover in the job market. In addition to this, the students will have lower levels of job satisfaction, job involvement, work commitment, and internal work motivation. Therefore, these issues will also bring the issue to the employers at the long run (Sato, 40-45). The People’s Republic of China seems to be experiencing the extreme increase of college graduates has outpaced the structural transition and rashly shifted the labor supply from semi-skilled manufacturing workers to more knowledge- intensive service professionals. This makes it the main reason for experts in the field and various scholars to emphasize that China requires extensive vocational training and industry engineering skills, which will help the country in solving its need for having manufacturing workers. Recently, a debate has emerged that economists say that the current situation of unemployment in China seems to portray that the country is running out of surplus labor. The presence of the unemployment population among the youth is a very complex social problem whereby it must be solved urgently. In the People’s Republic of China, the youthful population is termed to be highly educated because most of the youth are graduates. According to the nature of the economic status of the People’s Republic of China, the graduates are unwilling to choice factory work whereby they opt to compete for office-based positions. It is evident that graduates are four

Monday, September 23, 2019

Capstone and Case Studies in Energy Technology Term Paper

Capstone and Case Studies in Energy Technology - Term Paper Example Human Performance and Anatomy of an Event In its simple definition, human performance is a string of actions and behaviors implemented to achieve definite task objectives and milestones (Department of Energy, 2007). In mathematical terms, human performance is behavior plus results. Behavior can be defined as the aggregate responses to internal and external stimuli (Dictionary, 2011). The study of behavior and its causes are exceedingly valuable as the indication for development efforts to foresee, prevent, and recover from human errors and events. A range of studies by the nuclear industry, the aircraft industry, and the National Safety Council synonymously found that: †¢ About 80% of all events are caused by human errors. 20% are the result of equipment failures. In some industries, the numbers are closer to 90% human error and 10% equipment failures. And, †¢ When we break down human errors, we find that 70% of all human error is the result of latent organizational weaknesses or errors within the organization, whereas about 30% are individual errors. Anatomy of an Event: Events or Accidents are unwelcome, undesirable variation in the systems that often result in severe degradation or annihilation of equipment’s capacity to perform its normal function. The course of an event usually revolves around initiating action, error precursors, latent organizational weaknesses and flawed defenses. The starting point of an accident is an initiating action that is done unintentionally or intentionally (violation), causing active errors that have immediate, undesirable outcomes to the whole process. This initiating action is scaled up with error precursors that are basically unfavorable pre-existing conditions at the event site hence increasing the vulnerability of the accident risk. Further more, the management of an accident or event are demented by latent organizational weaknesses such as inefficient management control, ineffective engineering design and control and other system level weaknesses. Flawed

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Contribution of Digital Projections for Approaching Mise En Scene in Contemporary Theatre Performance Essay Example for Free

Contribution of Digital Projections for Approaching Mise En Scene in Contemporary Theatre Performance Essay In this research paper I’m going to describe about theater production technology which it is using digital production and how it is saturate to the mise en scene. Cinematic theater is term of using digital projection in contemporary theatre. That can be briefly described as a fusion of live performance and the magic of the big screen. By utilizing the best dramatic devices that each art form has to covey a story and entertain an audience; the possibilities to create interesting narratives and stage dynamics through the synergy of stage and cinematic design is exciting. Cinematic theatre is a contemporary style of drama that revolves around using pre-edited and live vision sequences to be projected onto screens and surfaces. These sequences are then integrated with the live performance to create dramatic meaning that interacts with the dramatic action on stage. The integrated use of projection during scenes and scene changes allows the stage action to become continuous, therefore creating a suspension of disbelief that engages the audience. In the ever increasing technological environment, more and more information and storytelling is being brought to us through visual images and screens; contemporary audiences are able to read layered visual texts. In developing a creative rationale for the utilization of cinematic sequences in live performance you have to consider various factors; how to use the projected vision without overwhelming the stage performance, creating a theatrical and visual design that enhances the dramatic meaning and the narrative choice between screen and stage action. To guide the creation and production of new work we have developed a description of the elements of cinematic integration for live performance. To accompany the Cinematic Theatre style they have devised a comprehensive creative rationale that we teach to educators and students using the conventions and elements that we utilize to produce visual performance work. Primary Conventions: The basic principle of Cinematic Theatre is to create a continual experience by using visual sequences projected onto screens or surfaces, in conjunction with set design and lives performance to create different dramatic spaces. The cinematic design should be active throughout the performance, to achieve this there are two primary conventions that are used to integrate the stage with the Visual design: Cinematic Backdrop is the live visual environment that works together with live scenes on stage to create a dynamic visual design to enhance the dramatic action. There number of ways to utilize the live backdrop: Cinematic Transitions are the visual sequences between the live stage scenes that allow the performance to continue during scene changes keeping the audience engaged. These transitions work very well with music and the use of popular songs to accompany these cinematic sequences to add meaning and action, especially if the music chosen is representative of the narrative. Visual Conventions: In producing a Cinematic Theatre production there are number visual conventions that can be utilized to create a genuinely integrated performance. Style Elements: When conceptualizing the visual component of a cinematic theatre performance it is important to address the overall style with reference to the script/ narrative/ context. In below describe technologies, which is using for the cinematic theatre. Screens and Surfaces: Traditionally projection has been used on one screen directly behind the stage action, much like a movie screen. With more mobile projectors and screens it is possible to think of new ways to place and project images. A number of screens can be used to create different effects, in What Simon Said? there rear projected screens were used to create the walls of the character’s room as the cinematic background. We envisage being able to create large-scale immersive environments to create distant horizons, urban architecture or multiple images. Stage design allowing the utilization of projected images on surfaces can create a dynamic canvas on which to apply vision. The applications are only limited by your imagination and ability to position the projector. Some examples include: a window space to see outside, a mirror to show symbolic representations of character, floor space to create a pool of water, smoke, curtains etc. Lighting design: It is important when incorporating video into live performance that you consider the effect of lights on the screen surface. One difficulty in setting lights is that they can significantly degrade the brightness and colour of the screen images if there is light either directly hitting or bouncing from the floor onto the screen. One solution is to set the screen up from the floor and placing some blocks/staging in front to block some of the bouncing light. When considering colour gels it is imperative to consider colours used in the screen images and try to match them as well as possible to give a blended effect. Mise-en-scà ¨ne Mise-en-scà ¨ne is a French term and originates in the theater. It means, literally, put in the scene. For film, it has a broader meaning, and refers to almost everything that goes into the composition of the shot, including the composition itself: framing, movement of the camera and characters, lighting, set design and gen earl visual environment, even sound as it helps elaborate the composition. Mise-en-scà ¨ne can be defined as the articulation of cinematic space, and it is precisely space that it is about. Cutting is about time; the shot is about what occurs in a defined area of space, bordered by the frame of the movie screen and determined by what the camera has been made to record. That space, the mise-en-scà ¨ne, can be unique, closed off by the frame, or open, providing the illusion of more space around it. Four aspects of mise-en-scene, which overlap the physical art of the theatre, are setting, costume, lighting and movement of figures. Control of these elements provides the director an opportunity to stage events. Using these elements, the film director stages the event for the camera to provide his audience with vivid, sharp memories. Directors and film scholars alike recognize mise-en-scene as an essential part of the director’s creative art. Conclusion In this research I’m trying to explain ‘contribution of digital projections for approaching mise en scene in contemporary theatre performance.’ In the first part I briefly explain what is ‘Digital projections’, ‘mise en scene’ and ‘contemporary theatre performance’. Mise en scene is French term and it generally use for film appreciation or film criticism. But previously this term use for critic theatre productions. Actual meaning of mise en sence is ‘put in the Frame’. Frame is basically explained in both film and theatre. So I think using term of mise en sence is possible in theatre productions. For creating theatre sets, props and space generally using hard materials. But in this art form those things create by digital projections. This is major development of the contemporary theatre productions. Further more I’m explaining advantages and disadvantages of usage digital projection in this art form. Finally I’m talking about choreographers who use this art form successfully and showing few videos. Basically this is new art form. It is impossible to compare with other theatre performance, which is not using digital projections. Choreographers day by day create new art pieces using projections. So I think this is major occasion of digital media use in society.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Piotr Ilytich Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Essay Example for Free

Piotr Ilytich Tchaikovsky’s â€Å"1812† Essay Composed by internationally-known classical musician, Piotr Ilytch Tchaikovsky, the classical music piece â€Å"1812 Overture in E Flat Major, Op. 49†, reflects the French invasion in Russia which was never victorious. With its full title, â€Å"The Year 1812,† Op. 49; French Ouverture Solonelle), the classical music also implies the withdrawal of Napoleon in 1812 during the Napoleonic Wars.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The musical elements in the composition display some underlying themes which made it more interesting: tone, rhythm, harmony, and form.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The tone uniquely displayed the varying pitch all through out the musical piece. This is manifested by the high pitch and low pitch that could be observed in the piece. The combination of the different pitches made the musical piece interesting to listen to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Meanwhile, another interesting about the musical elements present in the composition is its rhythm. Tchaikovsky used unique sound representations in the composition, some of which are the horns and the firing of the cannons.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another musical element is harmony. Despite the different pitches and rhythm present in the piece, the harmony of the musical notes and instruments that are used appear to be in agreement with each other; no â€Å"out-of-place† tunes could be observed, I think.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, the form of the musical piece is also worth noting. The form which tells about the over-all structure of the musical composition is also outstanding. The combination of the musical notes, tempo, tone, and the other elements came out smoothly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, the 1812 Overture became known for its â€Å"real cannon fire† effects when it is performed live in outdoor events. Meanwhile, if the performance has to be done indoor, the orchestras use sounds representing the cannon fire through computer-generated sounds. Tchaikovsky entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he realized his true calling in the field of music. After some years, he later moved to another conservatory where he met a group of Russian composers. Those Russians were known to be nationalist which somewhat inspired Tchaikovsky in his second symphony entitled, The Little Russian. Being known as not sufficiently Russian and â€Å"cosmopolitan,† he was later rejected by this group. In 1880, Nicholas Rubenstein, Peter Illych Tchaikovsky’s mentor, suggested to Peter that a striking celebratory piece should be composed for festivities. The piece was to be presented in the square near the cathedral, with the accompaniment of a magnificent orchestra, cathedral bells and live cannon fire to attain the exactness stipulated by the musical score in which every shot was written exclusively (Lampson, 1999). Reference: Lampson, D. (1999). Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky.  Ã‚   Retrieved April 12, 2007, from http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/works/tchaikov/1812.html

Friday, September 20, 2019

Explaining Crime Social Control Theory Exam 1 Criminology Essay

Explaining Crime Social Control Theory Exam 1 Criminology Essay 1. Based on all of the theories you have been exposed to so far in the course, choose the one theory that you think is the best at explaining crime. Compare it to at least two other theories and discuss how the theory you chose represents an improvement over the other two. Be specific and be sure to cite the empirical research to support your argument. Based on all the theories I have been exposed to in this course so far, social control theory is the best at explaining crime. Social control theory explains crime in terms of the individuals social relationships and focuses on the absence of significant relationships with conventional others and institutions (Agnew, 1992:48). The theory utilizes issues of conformity, so instead of theorizing about the motivations of criminal behavior, the social control theory ask, Why do people conform? In this theory people believe that societys ability to control social groups affects whether an adolescent turns to a life of crime or not. Social control theory comes from the learning theories which are developed from family ties or other social circles that individuals interact with so as to learn what is right and what is wrong. When these controlling influences are weak or rendered ineffective and absent, society frees the individual to deviate from legal and moral norms; therefore, crime often does occur. In particular, crime is most likely to when (1) when the adolescent is not attached to the parents, school, or other institutions; (2) parents and others fail to monitor and effectively sanction deviance; (3) the adolescents actual or anticipated investment in conventional society is minimal; and (4) the adolescent has not internalized conventional beliefs (Agnew, 1992:49). Although strain, social control, and differential association theory/social learning theory are all sociological theories, strain theory is distinguished from social control and social learning theory in its specification of (1) the type of social relationship that leads to delinquency and (2) the motivation for delinquency. Strain theory focuses explicitly on negative relationships with others: relationships in which the individual is not treated as he or she wants to be treated. Agnews developed a new theory, general strain theory that defines measurements of strain, the major types of strain, the links between strain and crime, coping strategies to strain, the determinants of delinquent or non-delinquent behavior, and policy recommendations that are based on this theory which introduced a new perspective on the original theory that was written off a few decades ago. While social control theory rests on the premise that the breakdown of society frees the individual to commit crime, strain theory is focused on the pressure that is placed on the individual to commit crime (Agnew, 1992:49). According to the strain theory, individual deviance is caused as a result of negative relationships or treatment from others; and this result in anger and frustration (Agnew, 1997a:31). Agnews strain theory was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and addressed many of the criticisms of the original strain theory, however; it lacked the supporting data and still had several flaws like the original strain theory. Strain theory can cause many negative feelings in an individual including defeat, despair, and fear, but the feeling that is most applicable to crime is anger. For example, an increase in strain would lead to an increase in anger, which may then lead to an increase in crime. Social control theory represents an improvement over the strain theory as it explains that if an individual has certain morals and social values that they live by and grew up believing t hat they are more likely to seek a socially acceptable way of achieving their goals and not let feelings of defeat, despair, fear, and anger lead them to respond to strain with crime. The strain theory affect creates pressure for corrective action which may lead adolescents to (1) make use of illegitimate channels of goal achievement, (2) attack or escape from the source of their adversity, and/or (3) manage their negative affect through the use of illegal drugs (Agnew, 1992:49). Social control theory, by contrast, denies that outside forces pressure the adolescent into crime but rather, the absence of significant relationships with other individuals and groups frees the adolescent to engage in delinquency in response to inner forces or situational inducements. Social learning theory (SLT) is distinguished from strain and control theory by its focus on positive relations with deviant others (Agnew, 1992:49). Social learning theory focuses on the general principles that (1) people can learn by observing the behavior of others and the outcomes of those behaviors (If people observe positive, desired outcomes in the observed behavior, they are more likely to model, imitate, and adopt the behavior themselves), (2) learning can occur without a change in behavior, and (3) cognition plays a role in learning. This theory incorporates aspects of behavioral learning (assumes that peoples environment cause people to behave in certain ways) and cognitive learning (presumes that psychological factors are important for influencing how one behaves) factors that are important for influencing how one behaves. Social learning theory outlines three stages for people to learn and model behavior include (a) attention: retention (remembering what one observed), ( b) reproduction (ability to reproduce the behavior), and (c) motivation (good reason) to want to adopt the behavior (Agnew, 1992:49). The social learning theory claims that the relationship with illegal peers will lead to a criminal lifestyle that changes the values of achieving success in a legit way. Reisss theory of personal and social control states that delinquency results when there is a relative absence of internalized norms and rules governing behavior in conformity with the norms of the social system to which legal penalties are attached (Lilly, 2007:85). One disadvantage of the social learning theory is that it does not account for what may be considered positive it focuses more on the factors perceived as negative by the learner. Social control theory represents an improvement as it seeks to direct and guide social learning toward obedience specific to an agenda outside the learners. Social learning is a change in behavior that is controlled by environmental influences ra ther than by innate or internal forces that occurs through observing the consequences of others and by determining if such behavior is worth replicating. The theory of social control emphasizes on the role of society in the control of criminal behavior and proposes social learning with the help of social control which is why I chose the theory of social control over the social learning theory. The Theory of Social Control is widely cited in criminology in addition it has also been explored by the realist philosophers and represented by Travis Hirschi, a pro-pounder of Right Realism. While no single theory can explain why everyone commits crime social control theory does look at the causations of crime from learning theories. They teach us that morals are taught in families and other social circles and that these morals keep individuals from committing crimes they are taught are wrong. The main premise of control theories is that When controls are present, crime does not occur; when controls are absent, crime often does occur (Beaver, 2010). Social control theory does give explanation by teaching us that when people hold tightly to certain morals and social values they are more likely to seek a socially acceptable way of achieving their goals. 3. During our course discussion, many of you pointed out that the criminological theories that we discussed have both strengths and limitations. This is a view that is held by many criminologists. One way to overcome this problem is to integrate theories into a single perspective. You are responsible for creating an integrated theory that incorporates elements from at least three theories. Be sure to provide a detailed analysis of this theory, including how you were able to integrate components from other theories. During the history of criminological thought, various criminological theories on crime causation have been put together into a single perspective. One way to overcome this problem is to create an integrated theory that incorporates elements by combining the ideas expressed by the concepts of differential association theory developed by Edwin Sutherland, Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie, and Robert Agnews general strain theory to provide a more accurate and comprehensive explanation as to why some individuals commit crime where others do not. Although many criminologists have viewed the criminological theories to have both strengths and limitations, it is by no means one single theory but the ideas from the three slighted altered theories that will help in providing a better explanation and understanding of criminal behavior. The first theory, differential association by Sutherland (1949:75) explains that criminal behavior is learned just like any other behavior through interactions with others. Sutherlands differential association predicts that an individual will choose the criminal path when the balance of definitions for law-breaking (unfavorable) exceeds those for law-abiding (favorable). Ultimately, the theory focuses on how individuals learn how to become criminals, which is due to an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law. Along the lines of differential association the theory of criminal desire holds that every human behavior is learned through interaction with the environment (Sutherland, 1949:76 ). From a researchers perspective, an individual will view society differently if they are gainfully employed as opposed to unemployed, if in a supportive and loving family or abused by parents. However, individuals might respond differently to the same situation depending on how their experience predisposes them to define their current surroundings (Sutherland, 1949:77). However, the integrated theory learning process is not limited to just differential associations, as is the case with Sutherlands theory, instead acknowledging the influence of both humans and non-human (i.e. money and social gain) objects. The second theory drawn upon the present formulation is Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie. Mertons theory involves the interactions and importance between culturally defined goals and what social arrangement make possible. According to Merton, anomie, derived from Emile Durkheim, if such cultural goals are not achievable through legitimate practices than individuals are likely to illegitimate means available for reaching them. In short, overemphasis on material success (i.e. the American dream as an emphasis on the goal of monetary success) and lack of opportunity for such success leads to crime. Institutional anomie theory, as published by Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld, proposed that the American societal pursuit of monetary success leads to anomie, or a departure from normal, sanctioned behaviors and a break from institutional social controls (Lilly, Cullen, and Ball, 2007:90). As anomie increases, so does the level of criminal behavior used by individuals to obtain monetary success (Lilly, Cullen, and Ball, 2007:90). As such, the integrated theory provides a more accurate and comprehensive explanation on the concepts established by Merton by providing adequate explanations of them including classifying each one as learned phenomena. Additionally, Mertons theory is proposed as the source of agitation, thereby leading one to commit crime, when the culturally defined goals of individuals are likely not to be achieved through legitimate processes.   Last, the general strain theory revised by Robert Agnew was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and taken from the original theory of anomie. According to the original strain theory, an increase in aspirations and a decrease in expectations should lead to an increase in delinquency; however, this was not found to be the case (Agnew, 1985:152). Also, the original strain theory predicted a concentration of delinquent behavior in the lower class, but research proved that delinquency was also common in the middle and upper classes (Agnew, 1985:152). Other variables are also neglected by this theory of strain, such as the abandonment of crime in late adolescence and the quality of family relationships (Agnew, 1985:152-153). Agnews general strain theory broadened the scope to include many more variable that were not addressed in the original strain theory as he attempted to explore strain theory for a perspective that accounted for goals other than monetary success and that cons idered an individuals position in social class, expectations for the future, and associations with criminal others (Agnew et al., 1996:683). General strain theory is a broad theory that can be applied to many different aspects of delinquency (ways of measuring strain, the different types of strain, and the link between strain and crime), however; in the integrated theory an individuals must also be taught how to cope without the help of others through involvement in social skills improvement, problem-solving training, and anger control programs which should lead to a decrease in delinquency. The integrated theory that incorporates elements by combining the ideas expressed by the concepts of differential association theory, Mertons theory on deviance from his 1938 analysis of the relationship between culture, structure and anomie, and Robert Agnews general strain theory, serves to explain all types of criminal behavior, both violent and non-violent. The crimes could involve economically driven crimes (theft, robbery, etc.) or white-collar crimes which each are the direct result of a need to satisfy desires due to an inability to do so through legitimate means. I believe the integrated theory provides an accurate and comprehensive analysis defining delinquency with an explanation as to why some individuals commit crime where others do not. The integrate theory can be utilized to implement policies geared towards helping to lessen crime and help in providing a better explanation and understanding of criminal behavior.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Women in Oedipus Rex Essay -- Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Women in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚         Charles Segal in Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge explains one of the pivotal functions of Jocasta in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex:    The second series begins with Jocasta. . . .Now Oedipus is pursuing the killer as possibly the same as himself. . . . In this set his goal shifts gradually from uncovering the murderer to discovering his own parents. The confidence and power that he demonstrated in the first series of encounters gradually erode into anger, loss of control and fear (72).    This essay will reveal the role of women in the drama, the attitude toward women, the contribution of women to plot development, and other considerations relevant to women in Oedipus Rex.    Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is â€Å"a good deal of evidence to support this view† that the fifth century playwright was the â€Å"educator of his people† and a â€Å"teacher†. Sophocles in his tragedy, Oedipus Rex, teaches about â€Å"morally desirable attitudes and behavior† (4), and uses three women to help convey these principles of living.    At the outset of Oedipus Rex no female characters are present; the reader sees a king who comes to the door full of curiosity: â€Å"Explain your mood and purport. Is it dread /Of ill that moves you or a boon ye crave?† When the priest has responded that the people are despairing from the effects of the plague, the king shows sympathy for his subjects: â€Å"Ye sicken all, well wot I, yet my pain, /How great soever yours, outtops it all.† Thomas Van Nortwick in Oedipus: The Meaning of a Masculine Life : â€Å"We see already the supreme self-confidence and ease of command in ... ...nflicts of the Antigone.† In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    Segal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1993.    Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Transl. by F. Storr. no pag. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed new?tag=public&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&part=0&id=SopOedi    â€Å"Sophocles† In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.    Van Nortwick, Thomas.   Oedipus: The Meaning of a Masculine Life. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.    Watling, E. F.. Introduction. In Sophocles: The Theban Plays, translated by E. F. Watling. New York: Penguin Books, 1974.      

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Jack Chicks The Prophet :: Islam Religion Comic Papers

Jack Chick's The Prophet If one were asked to comment on influential and powerful pieces of literature, one would expect the usual suspects to come to mind. There are those time-honored classics found in bound, leather volumes that are on everyone's bookshelves. Many celebrated contemporary works have the distinction of having been awarded a Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. It was not really until Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer Prize winning Maus (Parts I and II) that we could realize the awesome power of literature in a comic form. Literature in any form is also a double-edged sword. It can incise like a scalpel or detonate like a bomb. The endless rearrangement of twenty-six letters to form words represents both thought and action. Both have the potential to be positive or negative. The Chronicles of the Learned Elders of Zion, an apocryphal and fraudulent anthology, helped stir up anti-Semitic strife in a pre-Holocaust Europe. In a mere thirty-two pages, Jack Chick's comic, The Prophet, conveys much the same attitude as that which dominated the fascist landscape of the Nazi Reich less than six decades ago. The Prophet is nothing more than a disgusting piece of rubbish and propaganda. The assertions made about the origins, history, and motivations of Islam are so ridiculous, that at some point one cannot help but laugh at the stupidity needed to write such trash. This makes Chick's work both comic and tragic. Unfortunately, free speech even applies to the ignorant and those consumed with hatred. On the other h and, freedom of thought allows us to evaluate, criticize, and reject them. The story begins with the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon in the early 1980's. It is here that a reporter is terrorized by the stereotypical wild-eyed Muslim fundamentalist. Before the reporter's "enlightenment" by the warped Dr. Alberto Rivera, he neatly sums up the situation in the Middle East as most Americans have been trained to do - dismissing everyone there as being crazy and giving up on even an iota of understanding (Chick, Jack T., The Prophet, P. 3-4). Luckily, Dr. Rivera is at the terminal snackbar so he can make sense of all of human history. His story is so convoluted that he manages to solve more mysteries than Matlock and Columbo did I their entire television careers. The only question that remains at the end of his idiotic expose is: Where was he when the Warren Commission needed him?